A sonic spectacular for Christmas – two unusual Holiday albums from the glory days of RCA's Living Stereo series! First up is A Christmas Sound Spectacular – a set that features a bell-heavy approach to seasonal favorites – not in a way that's overdone Carillion music, but instead this mode that mixes the sonic dynamics of the hi-fi era with a range of rich tones on bells and chimes! In other words, things sometimes get nicely way out – as on John Klein's RCA work with Sid Ramin – on tunes that include "Gesu Bambino", "Winter Wonderland", "Jingle Bells", "Silver Bells", "Frosty The Snowman", and "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town". Let's Ring The Bells All Around The Christmas Tree is a record that features some of the bells promised in the title – mixed with richer arrangements that also sometimes feature a bit of chorus vocals! The record's the kind of album that's great to put on later on Christmas evening – after everyone's completely stuffed to the gills, and kind of nodding out around the tree – because there's some sleepier moments in the mix, and a few more sprightly numbers that may have you rising from your chair, and heading into the kitchen for some leftovers and beer. Titles include "Greensleeves", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Sleigh Ride", "All Around The Christmas Tree", "The Little Drummer Boy", and "The Christmas Song". CD

The classic first solo album by Big L – with bedrock DITC production by Buckwild, Showbiz and Lord Finesse – perfectly framing the rhymes by Harlem's finest. Big L didn't leave a huge wealth of recordings before he was taking away from the world, but he started out strong, and this benchmark effort makes a pretty solid testament to his legacy. Alongside some of the period QB hip hop, this one is pretty close to the pinnacle of streetwise east coast 90s hip hop. 12 tracks in all: "Put It On", "MVP", "No Endz, No Skinz", "8 Iz Enuff", "All Black", "Danger Zone", "Street Struck", "Da Graveyard", "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous", "I Don't Understand It, "Fed Up Wit The Bullsh#t", and "Let 'Em Have It L". CD

Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge's full length debut as a duo – and the most triumphant Stones Throw record in years! To this (still early) point in young .Paak's career, his voice has already proved to be a prime vessel for natural grit and mood, if not gamechanger songwriting, best paired with crackling, funk-steeped hip hop soul production. That's the case whether he's producing himself, working with a giant like Dr. Dre, or paired as he is here with Knxledge. Knx's production is a perfect backdrop – beats out front in the mix, classic Cali sample funk and soul framing the vocals – with a lingering haze holding it all together amazingly well! Intentional or not, Yes Lawd channels earlier Stones Throw classic LPs like Jaylib and Madvillain in the way it pairs distinctive contemporary talents for a joint duo effort, and after .Paak's solo shot Malibu, it's his second potential classic in a single year! Includes "Livvin", "Wngs", "What More Can I Say", "Kutless", "Lyk Dis", "Can't Stop", "Get Bigger", "Scared Money", "Suede", "Starlite", "Sidepiece", "Jodi", "Link Up", "Another Time", "Fkku" and more. CD